The Melbourne Racing Club is extending a special invitation to the victor of the Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June, granting them the opportunity to vie for glory in the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Without A Fight emerged triumphant in the 2023 edition of the $1.2 million Q22 and subsequently conquered both Caulfield's feature event and the illustrious Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington a few weeks later.
The Q22 now holds the distinction of being the first interstate race to secure a coveted ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup, joining a select group of races that includes the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m), Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m), Listed Mornington Cup (2400m), Group 3 Coongy Handicap (2000m), and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), as well as various international contests.
Jake Norton, MRC's executive director of racing and operations, expressed the significance of this decision, noting, “After Without A Fight winning the Q22 last year and going on to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, it was pretty obvious paper to dust off.”
“If you look at the recent winners, they are all very high quality and on the back of Without A Fight, we'd love to see similar replicated.
“The Q22 is well positioned given the time of year in an otherwise quiet time of year in Victoria. It's always nice to be able to remind people of the Caulfield Cup.”